What Do All of The Red Equal Signs on Facebook and Twitter Profiles Mean? Find Out Why They’re Popping Up on Social Media

If you've been on Facebook or Twitter today, you've undoubtedly noticed several people changing their profile picture to a red equal sign that is spreading rapidly around the web. What is this supposed to signify?

The emergence of these symbols is a social media effort to show support for equal human rights as the U.S. Supreme Court holds hearings on marriage equality in the United States. A big push for the cause came from the Human Rights Campaign on Facebook, calling for people to wear red today (March 26) and change profile photos on social media sites to a red equal sign to signify a support of equal rights.

The push is part of a larger campaign called Stand for Marriage, which is advocating for LGBT equal rights in the realm of marriage. Two different hearings are occurring in the Supreme Court on the issue. Today's hearing, Hollingsworth v. Perry is a challenge of California's Proposition 8. Tomorrow's case is challenging the Defense of Marriage Act, Windsor v. United States.

A decision following hearings of these cases will set precedent for law around the country regarding marriage rights in the United States.